Finally : cheap DIY selfmade solar cell with common materials !

[ResinRat2]

Well my first solar cell did not work at all.  No voltage was seen between the front Aluminum side and the back Carbon side while in the sun. So it is back to trying to understand the mechanism. I am missing something simple. I think I will go back to the basic design that was shown on Youtube with the LED screens , TiO₂, and plant dye. If I can build a version of that cell and then modify it one part at a time I could get it to work with the Carbon, Silver, Magnesium, and Aluminum design. Maybe a liquid electrolyte like Iodine was all that I needed; or maybe I needed longer heating times of the various layers to encourage them to meld?

[hydrocontrol]

Hydro...you are a funny Hoosier.

For a good laugh I also purchased that Survival Seed Bank of non-hybrid seeds they are advertising all over the conservative websites. I figure once the food-shortage crisis they predict will come to the US I will be able to feed my family while the starving gangs are roaming the streets. My garden will be perfectly safe because it is behind a flimsy wooden fence. LOL!!! So I am waiting for the weather to warm up so I can transplant my veggies too. 

Some things make no sense; you just have to laugh.

Getting the Survival Seed Bank of non-hybrid seeds is on my list. Liked your Fuel cell research. Shows great promise. I am working on replication of Thane Heins interesting generator. Been collecting magnets and wire so any available extra $$ is going that way at the moment. I figure food and energy are at the top of the survival list. Got plenty of wind were we live so a wind generator can be used for the energy part when the oil prices go back up this summer. Another month and it should be safe to plant seeds so I am holding off on the seed order. Like you I see the train wreck coming... That light in the tunnel is getting bigger and it is far away from the end of the tunnel so I know it is not the light.

[PhiScience]

Hay fellow Hoosiers,

Were I work we use a lot of high performance glass called Low-E Glass. This glass has a very thin plating of metal and is very conductive. I have been told by the company that makes the glass Cardinal CG that the metal used to plate the glass is mostly silver.   
http://www.cardinalcorp.com/products_coated_270/270.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-emissivity

Not sure if this glass can be useful in building a PV cell but if you want to try it I can get some over to you.

Wayne   

[Doug1]

Res
what are you using for the transparent electrode?

[hydrocontrol]

For a good laugh I also purchased that Survival Seed Bank of non-hybrid seeds they are advertising all over the conservative websites. I figure once the food-shortage crisis they predict will come to the US I will be able to feed my family while the starving gangs are roaming the streets. My garden will be perfectly safe because it is behind a flimsy wooden fence. LOL!!! So I am waiting for the weather to warm up so I can transplant my veggies too. 

A little off topic but related to you growing your own food. A grow box project using cheap Christmas LED lights. Looks like something I would do..

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lights/msg03142147677.html?18

Lots of large pictures so it take awhile to load..